Friday, May 23, 2008

Duveneck Elementary School

PTA Meeting

March 10, 2008



Held at Duveneck Library

Present: Isabelle Cole, Kathryn Weller, Pamela Wagner, Angela Mogielski-Cassini, Marie Drez, Gretchen DeAndre, Julie Dyson, Kim Robins, Linda van Gelder, Pearl Chow, Kathleen Meagher, Kristin Feitzinger, Liz Darby, Jen Buenrostro, Sheryl Klein

Absent PTA Executive Board Members: Jennifer Seto, Laura Wolfe, Sue Purdy Pelosi

I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 in the Duveneck Library.

II. Approval of Minutes. Minutes from the 2/11/08 meeting were distributed. Motion to approve minutes by Kathryn Weller was seconded by Marie Drez. Motion was unanimously approved.


  1. Treasurer Report (Pamela Wagner)


A. February Check Report was distributed. Motion to approve by Kristin Feitzinger was seconded by Kathryn Weller. Motion was unanimously approved.


B. 2007-2008 Budget v. Actual Worksheet was distributed. Notable variances (e.g., the decision to eliminate Just Buy it Revenue this year due to the auction’s fundraising success) were discussed. Year to date we are underspent in many categories, most notably school supplies and technology, though some may be due to timing of invoices. The worksheet is an important tool for the budget committee, which is meeting next week to begin planning for next year’s budget. The PTA currently has $100K in a CD which does not expire until September. If need be, the money can be pulled out early with a small penalty.


C. Transition. The process of transitioning the treasurer role to Pamela Wagner is largely complete. Xenia Hammer has contributed quite a bit of time to the process. The Board plans to thank Xenia.


  1. Parlimentarian Report (Kathryn Weller) Kathryn distributed proposed bylaws changes (attached). Motion to approve the proposed changes by Sheryl Klein was seconded by Gretchen De Andre. Motion was unanimously approved.


V. President’s Report (Isabelle Cole)


  1. Constant Contact. Duveneck is required to get off the district server and so must find a new means for distributing eNews. Motion to approve up to $30 per month to transition eNews to Constant Contact by Kristin Feitzinger was seconded by Sheryl Klein. Motion was unanimously approved.


  1. Online Directory. Bjorn Liencres discussed the possibility of an online directory with the Walter Hayes parent that developed theirs. Major operational challenges (e.g., approximately 300 man-hours to start up) will prohibit implementing an online directory at Duveneck. We will work to get the paper directory out earlier next year, perhaps by adding additional volunteer resources.


  1. Fundraising. Information gathering efforts are underway. We will have a more complete discussion of future fundraising efforts at a future PTA meeting.


VI. Principal’s Report (Kathleen Meagher)


  1. Faculty illness. Many faculty members (including both PTA teacher reps) have been out with the flu.


  1. Parent Survey. Deadline has been extended to Wed. 3/12. Overall response rate is approximately 75%, but goal of at least 50% participation for each grade level has not yet been met.


  1. Parent Teacher Conferences. Spring conferences (which are optional) are underway. Report cards will be distributed no later than the day before spring break.


  1. Mural. Kathleen is meeting with Jennifer Simoni regarding the proposed mural.


  1. “Coffee” with the Principal. Will be held Wed. 3/12 at 5:15 pm. The later time may be more appealing to working parents.


  1. Strategic planning. Principal Meagher is the elementary principal representative to a district strategic planning task force being lead by McKinsey & Co. Parents will have an opportunity to participate via focus groups and surveys.


  1. Kinder play yard. Construction is ongoing.


  1. Math Curriculum Parent Ed Event. On April 16th, from 6:30 to 7:30, the school will be hosting an event to educate parents regarding the math curriculum.


VII. School Community (Jen Buenrostro). Spruce up Duveneck is planned for April 12th. The primary project will be building a cart to carry the May Fete float. Other projects are spreading mulch and cleaning picnic tables. Refreshments will be served. Questions regarding where to house the cart on a permanent basis still need to be resolved. Once the float cart is built, Abby Knopper and team will begin building this year’s float. Gretchen DeAndre and Julie Dyson will check in with Abby regarding organizing float construction and other May Fete festivities.


VIII. Social (Gretchen DeAndre and Julie Dyson). Planning is underway for the spring social event. The theme is County Fair. Food will be BBQ. Proposed activities include square dancing, games, and a bake off. Tentative date is May 9. Alternative dates and other ways of easing potential conflicts with other events are being explored.


IX. Parent Ed (Kim Robins and Sheryl Klein). Planning is underway for a parenting boys event to be held on a morning in April.


  1. Site Council (Linda van Gelder). Site council worked on student (grades 3-5) and teacher surveys. These results will be tallied by hand and discussed at the next meeting along with the results of the current parent survey. Work also continues on the site plan. They are also getting prepared for next year. Site council needs two new people for two-year terms. Interested people should attend the 4/7 Site Council meeting. Information regarding the positions will be disseminated in the Dispatch and eNews.


  1. New Business


A. Teacher appreciation (Sheryl Klein). The list of proposed activities was distributed. Motion to approve a $400 increase of the teacher appreciation budget, bringing it to $1000, to accommodate the purchase of $10 in Fandango movie bucks for each teacher/aide/staff member by Liz Darby was seconded by Gretchen DeAndre. Motion was unanimously approved.


B. Charity Book Sale. Sale will occur on Fri. 4/18. Donations will be accepted from 4/14 to 4/17. People interested in helping should contact Liz Darby or Susie Hwang. Proceeds will go to one of three charities, each of which promote literacy. Unpurchased books will be donated to Costano School in E. Palo Alto, which is starting a new library. This is also one of the three candidates to receive sale proceeds. Duveneck student council will make posters to promote the event and help with elections to select the charity to receive the sale proceeds.


  1. Guest Speaker (Melissa Caswell, School Board Member)


A. School Bond Measure. $378 million bond measure will be on the June ballot. Fact sheet was distributed. Melissa answered questions. Motion for the Duveneck PTA to endorse the bond measure by Sheryl Klein was seconded by Linda van Gelder. Motion was unanimously approved. Melissa also sought personal endorsements. Melissa and Soma Mitra will be leading Duveneck’s efforts to promote the bond measure and will be seeking approximately 30 volunteers to help (e.g., man phone banks, walk precincts, assemble lawn signs).


B. Strategic plan. Melissa talked more about the strategic planning effort that is currently taking place with the pro bono assistance of McKinsey & Co.


C. Hot lunch. The hot lunch program lost $600K last year and will lose approximately $500K this year despite the change in vendors. On average, only 13% of students (including those on reduced/free lunch programs) purchase hot lunch. Given education spending cuts, Palo Alto cannot afford to have such a costly program. In order to provide lunches to students in need, but not lose so much money, it is likely the School Board will vote to move to a “grab and go” program (e.g., a sandwich and fruit, with no warm food and limited selections).


Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.


Next meeting is scheduled for Mon., April 14, 2008 in the Duveneck Library


Respectfully submitted,



Kristin Feitzinger, Secretary


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